:: PANCHASSE - a hidden paradise ::

Introduction

Panchasse, literally meaning Pancha: Five, Aasan: Seats, is the meeting place of 5 peaks covered with lush green forest of diverse flora & fauna. Panchasse lies on the west of Pokhara city about a day hike away at an altitude of 2,517 m from the sea level. Theer are old stone-stepped pilgrimage approaches upoan which one can climb past the grassland and paddy field to the vastness of Panchasse, from where a magnificent view of Annapurna massif is visible so close as if one could reach out and touch them. Trekking around Panchasse is a delightful journey indeed.

Weather:

Panchasse, which is one of the most rain-receiving places in the etire country, has a pleasant wheather and cab be visited all year round. During winters the Panchasse peaks receive snowfall, so it can be cold during the winter season. People from and around Pokhara visit Panchasse to play with the snow. The avereage teperature in Panchasse area is 250c Celsius in summer during daytime.

Attractions:

a) Nature & Scenery:

The longest chain of mountain range visible from Panchasse includes Mt. Dhaulagiri(8,172 m), Mt. Annapurna I(8,091m), Mt. Annapurna South(7.219m), Mt. Himchuli(6,441m), Mt. Fishtail(6,993m), Mt. Annapurna II(7.934m), Mt. Annapurna III(7,525m), Mt. Annapurna IV(7,525m), Mt. Lamjung(6,998m), Mt. Manaslu and more. From a top Panchasse, Mt. Fishtail seems to be nestled by Mt. Annapurna around her laps. Sunrise and sunset views from the top are spectacular and heavenly.

b) Flora and Fauna:

As Panchasse receives a lot of rain throghout the year and is covered with lush green vegetation from subtropical to temperate forest all over, it also provides home to a wide variety of flora, fauna and is source of many rivers including Harpan River, the source of the famous Fewa lake of Pokhara. 107 species of wild orchids, including 2 endemic ones, have been found in Panchasse, 5 species of rhodedendron and many herbal plants such as Loth Salla, Titte, Kurilo, Naagbeli, Satuwa, Paanch Aaule and plants such as Loktha, Hashru, Champ, Phalat which are used to produce Nepali paper are found here. Leopard, bear, deer, several species of birds, butterfies and other animals also inhabit in the jungles.

c) Religious and Cultural Attraction:

Panchasse, the 5 peaks which literally also means 5 sacred seats, its an ancient pilgrimage climb. The climb itself holds a great significance in Yoga. The temple of Shidda Baba(Lord Shiva), Homekunda (Place for ritual of offerings to fire), Panchasse Lake, Balaji Panchayan Temple. Bouddha Stupas(about 200 years old) and caves where sages were believed to have meditated many centuries ago. The population of Panchasse is almost 100,000 including Gurungs, Brahmins and other ethnic groups living in the surrounding villages.

Festivals

Balachaturdhashi Festival (around the end of November) is the biggest festival in Panchasse where people from all circle come to pay their homage to the mountain mother where first they cleanse themselves in the sacred Panchasse Lake, make offerings, and start the Panchasse climb up to the top during which they offer grains and rice to the earth which symbolizes the re-fertilization of the Earth mother. Devotees generally wear auspicious red colored dress. Shivaratri (mid February), Buddha Purnima(Full moon, mid May) andthe entire month of Shrawan(mid July to mid August) are the other special occasions when devotees come for pilgrimage climb to Panchasse. On buddha Purnima, birthday of Lord Buddha, holy books from the 200 Year old Gompa near Kusma village is carried around the villages by the devotees during a specieal ceremony.

Shrarwan Kumar "Samadhi"

Shrawan Kumar's Samadhi, another religious spot is about 2.5 hours south downward from Panchasse peak near a pond. According to legend in Ramayana, Shrawan Kumar, who was loyal, loved and served his parents, was carrying his blind parents to Muktinath pilgrimage, while at the same time King Dasarath was hunting in the same place. When Shrawan Kumar was filling the water bucket to quench the thirst of his beloved parents, it sounded like an animal roar, and the king shot his arrow towards the roaring sound unfortunately killing Shrawan Kumar. Realizing this, the king asked forgiveness with the blinds, but they never forgave the king and cursed him that he would suffer the same fate and cried till death. That is why the river sprouting from there is called Aandhi Khola, river from the tears of the blinds.

Code of Conduct:

1. Do not litter, use iodine tablets for drinking water, avoid mineral water bottles
2. Respect privarcy, ask before photographing people or religious sites.
3. Protect plants and animals, do not remove flowers and orchids
4. Be sensitive to local cultural heritage.
5. Contribute to local economy, taste local cuisine, use local products and services
6. Avoid and discourage bargaining as much as possible.
7. Do not make fire and discourage wood fire.
8. Try to make educate the local people, and empower the local.
9. Encourage home stay, ten house and small lodges along the trails.
10. Remeber, every penny spent here contibutes directly to the local economy.

For More Information Contact:

Shree Panchasse Area Development User Committe
Phone: +977 61 527584 (C/O: MDO)

Ramadi - a Gurung Village!

Introduction:

Ramadi is a Gurung village situated at Ward No. 7 of Deurali VDC, Kaski, Nepal. It is 35 Km far east away from the famouse city Pokhara which is a head quarter of Gadaki zone. It is at the altitude of 1500 m height from sea level. There are Margyangkot ward no 8 of Deurali VDC in the north, Magyangkot basaula ward no 9 & ward No 1 of Deurali VDC in the west, Maunwan Danda, Sidhha VDC in the east & Thaprek VDC in the south of Ramadi Village. You can see the clearly the range of Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Fishtail(6,993 m), Mt. Himchuli, Mt. Manaslu, Phewa Lake(a famouse lake of Pokhara), Seti river, Mandi river & panaromic view of various villages whiche covered the mountains.

How to reach Ramadi?

There are mainly three routes:

1. Pokhara - Sishuwa - Janta Chautara(Raja Chautara) - Phedi - Ramadi
2. Pokhara - Sishuwa - Janta Chautara(Raja Chautara) - Phedi - Deurali - Ramadi
3. Pokhara - Kotre, Tanahun - Katipipal(Tanaun) - Ramadi

Offcourse, the first route is being used by the local people & tourists to be there since there is transportation facility to reach there. Bus of Begnas Taal Bus Committee has been providing the transportation facility from Pokhara to Ramadi since 2001. The second route is being used if the bus is not available or missed the bus. People can reach at Phedi by bus then climb up on foot for an hour. The third route is generally used by those people who feel easy by catching the Mini bus that goes to Thaprek, Thanti Bhangyang, Tanahun, has to get off at Katipipal. It takes 20 minutes from to reach Ramadi

Arther Kahule to Panchasse Tour - 2008

It was my first journey to Arther Kahule to Panchasse in Tuesday, 25 November 2008. We (Kshitij & myself) moved to Kahule village which is situated in ward no 9 of Arther Danda Kharka VDC of Parbat district. It is about 1650 metres altitude from the sea level. It is about 45 Kilometers(25 km road & 20km rural way) far west from Pokhara city of Kaski district. We moved from Pokhara for Kahule by Jeep & reached at 6:30 PM. It is around 3 hours journey from Pokhara to Kahule.

We reach at the house of Kshittij at 6:45 PM & meet with Bibi(mother's of Kshittij). I feel too cold there. Asked with her about her health & the situation of village. I slept dreaming that I will be at the top of Panchasse Hill tomarrow morning as well as the beautifull scenarios to be captured by my camera.

The village Kahule Arther that I found pretty panoromic view from the village where I got enjoyed seeing the scenarios. The village is situated in the south part of Panchasse hill which famouse for the tourist & religious belivers. There is Arther Village in the west of Kahule, Saishwonran in west north, Panchasse hill in the north, Bagale ward no-8 of Arther VDC in the south & the Bangsing VDC, Syangja in the east of village.

How to reach Arther - Kahule?

There are mainly five routes to reach:

1. Pokhara - Pumdi Bhumdi - Bhanjyang(pass) - Kahule
2. Pokhara - Phoolbari -Bagale - Arther Kahule, Partbat
3. Pokhara - Dobilla - Dandakharka- Arther - Kahule, Parbat
4. Pokhara - Sarketari - Bange - Bangsing- Kahule, Arther
5. Pokhara - Bhadhaure Deurali - Bhanjyang(pass) - Kahule, Arther

Offcourse, Fourth & Second routes are generally used by those people who wish to reach there by Jeep & bus respectively. The remaining routes are being used by local people to reach there ob foot if the Jeep & buses are not available.

Due to the tired of journy by Jeep to Arther, we woke up at 7:00 Am early in the morning as I thought but most of the people from different palces already have been to worship the Siddababa Temple. We(Kshittij & myself) started to climb up the hill after having milk at 8:00 AM. When I reached at the top of Kahule village, I got to see the panaromic view of Panchasse lake, mountains. We kept climbing up with feeling cold with exciting as well as taking photos and talking about the Panchasse.

We meet with two tourists who came from Japan to visit Panchasse yesterday & stayed at Bhanjyang, Shyangja told us that they felt terrible cold over there. Offcourse, I was also thinking about if I were there because Mr. Roshan Gurung, Radha(She is a staff of(both of from Arther Kahule & involved in Machhapuchhre Development Organization(MDO)) & Ram Saran Sedain(Staff of MDO) asking me be there. on 25th November 2008, a programme was organized by MDO at Bhangyang to expose the Panchasse Development Area. Unfortunately, I could not attend the programme.

We reached at the Panchasse Lake which is at the altitude of 2200 m of height from the sea level, at 12:30 PM. The lake is quite peace. Balachaturdhashi Festival (around the end of November) is the biggest festival in Panchasse where people from all circle come to pay their homage to the mountain mother where first they cleanse themselves in the sacred Panchasse Lake, make offerings, and start the Panchasse climb up to the top during which they offer grains and rice to the earth which symbolizes the re-fertilization of the Earth mother. I could climbed up the hill difficully. While climbing some people were getting down where as most of people were climbing up. At 1:15 PM we reached at the top of Panchasse Hill where Gurung Tower statue could be seen. The Panchasse hill is at the altitude of 2517m height from the sea level.

From there we could see the longest chain of mountain range visible from Panchasse includes Mt. Dhaulagiri(8,172 m), Mt. Annapurna I(8,091m), Mt. Annapurna South(7.219m), Mt. Himchuli(6,441m), Mt. Fishtail(6,993m), Mt. Annapurna II(7.934m), Mt. Annapurna III(7,525m), Mt. Annapurna IV(7,525m), Mt. Lamjung(6,998m), Mt. Manaslu and more. From a top Panchasse, Mt. Fishtail seems to be nestled by Mt. Annapurna around her laps. Sunrise and sunset views from the top are spectacular and heavenly.

We, got down from there at 1:23 & took 1 hour to reach Bhanjyang where Roshan & Radha were waiting us. I met with Purnaman Gurung(staff of MDO) there also. At 2:30 PM only I could get met with them & got very happy sharing the things. They were telling that they missed me yesterdays program. After then we took some foods & photos that made me forget all the tired of climbing up to the hill & getting down.

We got down to Arther Kahule village at 7:30 PM in the evening. At that time sister Bibi(Mother of Radha & Kshittij & Mother in law of Roshan) had preapared foods for us. We had delicious food there & talked about the village & Panchasse Hills.

The next day, we stayed at Arther Kahule them visited surroundings of Kahule. Wow! naturally pretty, beauty which have never been yet. Thanks Radha & Roshan for making me visit Arther Kahule to Panchasse Hill such a part of lovely place of Nepal. I will not be visited there If both of them not made impress me!